ABSTRACT

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an age-related disease of unknown aetiology characterized by prostatic enlargement coincident with distinct alterations in tissue histomorphology. Instead of therapeutic agents that can cause severe side effects, plant extracts are frequently used to treat BPH. In this study, the phytochemical composition of C. esculenta and effect of methanol extract of Colocasia esculenta on male hormonal in dihydrosterone estradiol valarate induced-BPH in male wistar albino rats. A total of 20 male wistar albino rats and 18 mice were used for this study. The rats were grouped into 5 groups (n=4). Group I = normal control, group 2 = BPH-induced, group 3 = received fanisteride, groups 4 and 5 received 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg bwt of C. esculenta, respectively. The phytochemical analysis showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, oxalates, saponins, tannins, terpenes, glycosides and phenols. The acute toxicity studies using mice model showed that the methanol extract of the plant was safe at 5000 mg/kg bwt. The result of this work showed that the disease control group has a significant (p<0.05) higher level of estradiol when compared with the normal control group. Prostatic specific antigen (PSA) and testosterone levels significantly (p<0.05) increased in the control when compared with the normal control and treatment groups. The result of LH shows that it significantly (p<0.05) decreased in the disease control when compared with other treatment groups and normal control groups. There was no significant (p>0.05) difference (p>0.0 5) in relative organ weight of lungs, kidney and heart but a significant (p<0.05) decrease in relative weight of liver of the normal control and groups treated with methanol extract of C. esculento seed. The result also showed that the relative prostate weight increased significantly (p<0.05) in disease control relative to other treatment groups while re I at ive testes weight sign ifican ti y (p<0. 05) decreased in disease contra I relative to other groups. The decrease in PSA and relative prostate weight shows that the extract could be used in the management of BPH and can serve as a source of herbal drug based on the presence of the phytochemicals contained in it.